Medical centers all over the world have acquired accreditation from well known international organizations such as JCI, JCAHO and ISO to express their dedication to excellence. Another advantage of medical tourism is the immediate access to health care services. For those who have come from countries with public health care systems, medical tourism offers them the chance to be placed on the priority list. When dealing with matters of health, waiting is not always an option.

1. 1
Why Medical Tourism India by Dr.Mahboob Ali Khan Phd PMP Leading Healthcare
Consultant.
India has one of the best qualified professionals in
each and every field, and this fact has now been
realized the world over. Regarding Medical Facilities
India has the most competent doctors and world class
Medical Facilities. With most competitive charges for
treatment, India is a very lucrative destination for
people wanting to undergo treatment of certain
medical problems who do not need immediate
emergency treatment.
India offers World Class Medical Facilities, comparable with any of the western
countries. India has state of the art Hospitals and the best qualified doctors. With
the best infrastructure, the best possible Medical facilities, accompanied with the
most competitive prices, you can get the treatment done in India at the lowest
charges. A patient will come to India where he will undergo medical treatment
and along with that we will show him the Indian tourist and pilgrim destinations,
as and when advised by the Doctors. The whole thing would save him a lot of
money and he will get to discover India at the same time. We assure that we
provide the best medical and travel facilities during for you in India.
Get your medical treatment done in India at a fraction of the cost at which it is
done abroad - in Europe or America. Besides providing you medical treatment,
we will also show you different tourist destinations in India. The complete
package will cost you less that what you would have to pay for the medical
charges alone, in other European, Middle East or American countries.
Why India
India is a leading player in the medical tourist/healthcare Facilitation industry. It
is increasingly emerging as the destination of choice for a wide range of medical
procedures. There are numerous advantages of going to India for treatment. Some
of the advantages of going to India for medical treatment are:
Advantages of going to India for Medical Treatment
 Internationally accredited medical facilities using the latest technologies
 Highly qualified Physicians/Surgeons and hospital support staff

2. 2
 Significant cost savings compared to domestic private healthcare
 Medical treatment costs in India are lower by at least 60-80% when
compared to similar procedures in North America and the UK
 No Wait Lists
 Fluent English speaking staff
 Options for private room, translator, private chef, dedicated staff during
your stay and many other tailor-made services
 Can easily be combined with a holiday / business trip
Within India, we have partnered with world-class private
care hospitals, which provide quality medical services at
affordable prices for our clients. We have worked with these
facilities to ensure that they will deliver a service that will
meet our high expectations.
Alternative Therapies in India for Medical Treatment
India is renowned for ancient alternative therapies such as
Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation, and Therapeutic Massage.
India is an exotic tourist destination offering everything from beaches, mountains,
cosmopolitan cities, quaint villages and pilgrimages to suit every palate. Rich in
history and culture, India has proved to be an oasis in the modern world,
providing complete health and well being, while providing the latest in
technology.
Indian Corporate Hospitals
Indian corporate hospitals have a large pool of doctors, nurses, and support staff
ensuring individualized care. The highly skilled personnel, with wide experience
and international exposure excel in Cardiology and Cardiothoracic surgery,
Orthopedic surgery, Bariatric or Obesity surgery, Gastroenterology,
Ophthalmology, Dentistry, and Urology, to name a few. Our hospital partners
have exclusive Cosmetic/Plastic surgery departments. Our alliance partners have
Centers of Excellence in their specialty areas.
All medical investigations are conducted using the latest,
technologically advanced and cutting edge diagnostic equipment.
Stringent quality assurance exercises consistently ensure reliable
and high quality test results in a timely manner.

3. 3
Even though India has many different languages, English is widely spoken. All
hospitals have excellent English speaking staff and language or communication is
very easy. If English is not your native language, we can arrange translators in
most major international languages to be with you during your Indian tour.
India has kept pace with the latest in technology and its application has been
widely felt in the health industry. Moreover, India's strong pharmaceutical sector
has gained international recognition.
Brief Profile of India
India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a kaleidoscopic variety
and rich cultural heritage. It has achieved multifaceted socioeconomic progress
during the last 58 years of its Independence. India has become self-sufficient in
agricultural production, and is now the tenth industrialized country in the world
and the sixth nation to have gone into outer space to conquer nature for the
benefit of the people. It covers an area of 32,87,263 sq km, extending from the
snow-covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south. As the
seventh largest country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia,
marked off as it is by mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct
geographical entity. Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches
southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between
the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west.
Lying entirely in the northern hemisphere, the mainland extends between latitudes
8°4' and 37°6' north, longitudes 68°7' and 97°25' east, and measures about 3,214
km from north to south between the extreme latitudes and about 2,933 km from
east to west between the extreme longitudes. It has a land frontier of about 15,200
km. The total length of the coastline of the mainland, Lakshwadeep Islands, and
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is 7,516.6 km.

4. 4
Medical Tourism Benefits and Advantages
These days, a growing number of people are discovering the benefits of medical
tourism. In the USA and throughout the Western world, it is becoming common
knowledge that medical tourism offers a cheaper option for receiving medical
treatment without compromising on quality.
This article will outline the benefits and advantages of medical tourism, the reasons
why people go abroad for treatment and basically, what medical tourism is all
about.
Medical Tourism at a Glance
In general, medical tourism is the act of going overseas to obtain medical, cosmetic
or dental treatment in another country. Medical tourism is also regarded as Health
Tourism, Medical Travel or Global Healthcare. Over the past five years, many
travel agencies specializing in medical tourism have been offering packages to
people who want to receive medical treatments abroad.
More people are opting to receive medical treatment abroad rather than in their
own countries because:
 Certain medical services are not available in their country of residence.
 Their health insurance does not cover the full cost of a procedure.
 Most people are unwilling to compromise their health just because the
treatment costs are too high.
Why People Go Abroad for Treatment

5. 5
The popularity of obtaining medical treatment overseas is influenced by several
factors. People seek medical treatment abroad because:
 The costs of healthcare in developed nations have increased exceedingly.
 Nowadays, international travel is trouble-free and reasonably priced.
 Global standards of care and technological advancements in healthcare are
rapidly improving all over the world.
 Improved communication opportunities make it easier to find and contact
medical centers overseas.
Another factor to consider is health insurance. People without health insurance, or
with a limited insurance policy, are more likely to seek other options such as
medical tourism. As the price of healthcare services increase, the range of
treatments and procedures that the health insurance policies cover decreases. The
deductibles from a person's health insurance may turn out to be more expensive
than the price of going overseas for treatment. This is why people who simply
cannot afford health insurance, choose traveling abroad as a legitimate alternative.
The Benefits of Medical Tourism
Affordability and Cost-effectiveness
The low cost of medical procedures, is the number one reason why people go
offshore for medical treatments. The savings range between 30% and 80% of the
cost that you would normally pay in the USA.
Due to the low prices of medical procedures and surgery abroad, some people
worry that medical tourism might be fraud or a scam. The main reason behind the
low prices of medical treatments abroad is the low cost of labor in the popular
medical tourism destinations.
Although the treatments are cheap, in most cases surgical procedures are
performed by well trained experts who are using top notch technology. In addition,
the lower costs of malpractice, insurance and administration also contribute to the
low prices of overseas medical procedures.

6. 6
High-Quality Healthcare
Many of the doctors and surgeons that offer healthcare services to international
patients are trained and certified in Western countries, such as United States and
Great Britain.
Medical centers all over the world have acquired accreditation from well known
international organizations such as JCI, JCAHO and ISO to express their
dedication to excellence.
Some institutes and medical centers are members of the NIH (National Institutes of
Health), which is a federal agency that gives leadership and financial support to
researchers in the field of medicine and health.
Immediate Service
Another advantage of medical tourism is the immediate access to health care
services. For those who have come from countries with public health care systems,
medical tourism offers them the chance to be placed on the priority list. When
dealing with matters of health, waiting is not always an option.
Improved Flight and Communication Services
Most procedures performed abroad can be scheduled via the internet or by phone.
People have the flexibility to book flights and schedule surgery procedures from
the comfort of their own home. This eliminates the inconvenience of going to the
hospital or clinic for evaluations and assessments. The only time a person has to
leave their house is on the day or week of the surgery, or procedure.
Travel Opportunities
Even though medical tourism is about obtaining medical care, a side benefit of
medical tourism is having the opportunity to travel to another country. For some
medical tourists, especially those seeking dental care, cosmetic care or wellness
treatments, these can enjoy the opportunity to travel overseas in addition to
receiving less expensive healthcare.

7. 7
Conclusion
The concept of medical tourism is appealing to anyone who is interested in high
quality and affordable healthcare. The medical tourism phenomenon is gaining
popularity and the number of people going abroad for treatment increases rapidly
every year.
With many medical tourism benefits, advancements in technology and
improvements in healthcare standards within developing countries, it is likely that
the advantages of medical tourism will provide a striking economical solution to
many healthcare problems.
A Case Study on Medical Tourism in Hyderabad City
Introduction
Definition of Medical Tourism
Medical tourism can be broadly defined as provision of ‘cost effective’ private
medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry for patients needing
surgical and other forms of specialized treatment. This process is being facilitated
by the corporate sector involved in medical care as well as the tourism industry –
both private and public.
Ancient History-Indian Medical Tourism
Some might have difficulty categorizing yoga retreats, Buddhist pilgrimages, and
meditation centers as medical tourism, but the unbelievable reach of India’s
healing arts is not to be ignored. Ever since yoga’s birth more than 5,000 years
ago, India has enjoyed a constant influx of medical travelers and spiritual students
hoping to master and benefit from this most fundamental and revered branch of
alternative medicine. When Buddhism came along roughly 2,500 years later, this
only added fuel to the fire and helped position India as the epicenter of Eastern
cultural, spiritual, and medicinal progress. Not only is India one of the world’s
oldest medical tourism destinations, but it has now also become one of the world’s
most popular ones as well.

8. 8
Medical Tourism Industry Overview
The Indian healthcare market is Rs. 15 billion and growing at over 30% every year.
Indian private hospitals are increasingly finding a mention in the travel itineraries
of foreigners, with the trend of medical tourism catching up in the country. If
industry estimates are to be believed, the size of the medical tourism industry
stands at Rs 1,200 – Rs 1,500 crore (Rs. 12-15 billion).A recent CII-McKinsey
study on Indian healthcare says medical tourism alone can contribute Rs 5,000- Rs
10,000 crore (Rs. 50-100 billion) additional revenue for tertiary hospitals by 2012,
and will account for 3-5% of the total healthcare delivery market. This is a huge,
untapped market, not just for therapeutic medical tourism like ayurveda, but also
for curative treatment. India can lead the world in medical and health tourism since
we have a tremendous advantage with a large pool of skilled manpower and
technological edge.
Why India?
The countries where medical tourism is being actively promoted include Greece,
South Africa, Jordan, India, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. India is a recent
entrant into medical tourism. The Indian government predicts that India’s $17-
billion-a-year health-care industry could grow 13 per cent in each of the next six
years, boosted by medical tourism, which industry watchers say is growing at 30
per cent annually. Price advantage is a major selling point. The slogan, thus is,
“First World treatment’ at Third World prices”. The cost differential across the
board is huge: only a tenth and sometimes even a sixteenth of the cost in the West.
India has a lot of hospitals offering world class treatments in nearly every medical
sector. For long promoted for its cultural and scenic beauty, India is now being put
up on international map as a heaven for those seeking quality and affordable
healthcare. Analysts say that as many as 150,000 medical tourists came to India in
2004. As Indian corporate hospitals are on par, if not better than the best hospitals
in Thailand, Singapore, etc there is scope for improvement, and the country is
becoming a preferred medical destination. In addition to the increasingly top class
medical care, a big draw for foreign patients is also the very minimal or hardly any
waitlist as is common in European or American hospitals.
About Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the fifth largest city in India with an ancient civilization and culture.
Hyderabad and Secunderbad are twin cities, separated by Hussain sagar which is a
man made lake. A natural and sophisticated blend of old and new, an old ‘Nawabi’

9. 9
culture with a new pro-active approach and hospitality. The teeming bazaars of the
old city, in the midst of which stands the 400-year-old Charminar, the modern
shopping complexes and ultra-modern malls in the newer areas of the city add to
the charm of Hyderabad. The Golconda Fort, capital of the kingdom by that name,
is today very much part of the city, as is Cyberabad (means Cyber City), a new
local area created to keep pace with the zooming Information Technology and
Tourism sector. Pearls, bangles, silks, computer software, handicrafts and above all
a delectable cuisine add to the splendor of this great city. Hyderabad is one of the
most densely populated cities in the country and is home to about 2.2 million
people. Hyderabad has a mix of Hindu-Muslim culture with a number of
monuments of historical importance, including the very famous Charminar.
Hyderabad has too many tourist attractions that would often make it difficult for a
tourist to set his priorities. While art lovers cannot defy the attraction of the huge
repository of antiques displayed at the A.P. Museum, The Nizam Museum and the
Salarjung Museum would offer a delightful insight to the rich imperial history.
Hyderabad is known worldwide for its diamond markets, glass embedded bangles
and delectable Hyderabadi cuisine. Hyderabadi Cuisine can itself be a big reason
for visiting Hyderabad. The delicious Biryanis and myriad of mutton and chicken
dishes religiously followed by mouth-watering sweets will earn the accolades from
all gourmets across the world.
Advantages of Coming to Hyderabad for Medical Treatment
 Internationally accredited medical facilities using the latest technologies
 Highly qualified Physicians/Surgeons and hospital support staff
 Significant cost savings compared to domestic private healthcare
 Medical treatment costs in India are lower by at least 60-80% when
compared to similar procedures in North America and the UK
 No Wait Lists
 Fluent English speaking staff
 Options for private room, translator, private chef, dedicated staff during your
stay and many other tailor-made services
 Can easily be combined with a holiday/business trip
Quality in Health Care
India the glorious country has found yet another way to contribute to the world
through quality health care. Now is the time when it is giving its best through
quality health care and medical tourism facilities. Increasing pressure on the

10. 10
medical facilities and the hike in the purchasing capacity of the Indians and the
foreigners visiting India has led to the recent development in the quality health care
and medical facilities.
The geographic conditions and the increase in the quality health care services are
all conducive to boost the medical tourism facilities in India.
Importance of Accreditation
Obviously, you want to receive the best possible care that you can. When you stick
with medical facilities that have reputable credentials and accreditation, you can be
reasonably sure that they adhere to certain standards, medical codes, and
professional ethics. Having accreditation does not necessarily mean that your
doctor or dentist is a miracle worker, but it helps to weed out undesirable medical
practitioners. In addition, many insurance companies will not pay for medical
services performed at non-accredited health care facilities.
Joint Commission International (JCI)
Joint Commission International (JCI) is the global arm of the US-based Joint
Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO); the same
body that certifies over 18,000 hospitals in the United States.
Although JCI approval is not the only accreditation available for medical tourism
facilities, it is a fairly good benchmark to use when researching foreign hospitals.
If you come across a medical tourism facility that doesn’t have JCI accreditation,
there’s no need to be alarmed. Many countries have their own accrediting bodies
that put forth standards and regulations that closely mirror (and sometimes exceed)
the accrediting standards established byJCI.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
While ISO is not necessarily a health care accrediting body, it’s important that you
stick with medical tourism destinations where ISO has representation. ISO and its
member organizations help ensure that hospitals and dental clinics closely adhere
to the strict international standards that they put forth. In this way, you have a
much better chance of receiving optimal medical and dental care when you take
your health vacation abroad.

11. 11
Access to Hyderabad:
By Air: Indian Airlines has flights connecting Hyderabad with all major cities in
India. The nearest airport is Shamshabad International Airport.
By Rail: The world’s second largest railway under one management the Indian
Railways carries more than ten million people every day. Main railway stations are
Begumpet Station, Hyderabad Station, Kachiguda Station and Secunderabad
Station.
By Bus: The AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has a busy district
service that connects Hyderabad to every city, town and almost all villages.
Cost Comparison: Preventive Health Checks
Preventive Health Checks Charges in Hyderabad
Master Health Check $45
Executive Health Check $90
Cardiac Checkup $130
Procedure Charges In Hyderabad and USA (US $):
Procedure
Cost (US$)
United States Hyderabad
Bone Marrow Transplant 2,50,000 69,000
Liver Transplant 3,00,000 69,000
Heart Surgery 30,000 8,000
Orthopedic Surgery 20,000 6,000
Cataract Surgery 2,000 1,250

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Dental Procedure Charges between USA and Hyderabad
Dental procedure
Cost in US ($)
Cost in Hyderabad
($)
General
Dentist
Top End
Dentist
Top End Dentist
Smile designing - 8,000 1,000
Metal Free Bridge - 5,500 500
Dental Implants - 3,500 800
Porcelain Metal Bridge 1,800 3,000 300
Porcelain Metal Crown 600 1,000 80
Tooth impactions 500 2,000 100
Root canal Treatment 600 1,000 100
Tooth whitening 350 800 110
Tooth colored composite
fillings
200 500 25
Tooth cleaning 100 300 75
Cost Comparison – Hyderabad Vs United Kingdom (UK)
Procedure
United Kingdom (USD)
Approx
Hyderabad (USD)
Approx
Open Heart Surgery USD 18,000 USD 4,800
Cranio-Facial surgery and USD 13,000 USD 4,500

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skull base
Neuro- surgery with
Hypothermia
USD 21,000 USD 6,800
Complex spine surgery with
implants
USD 13,000 USD 4,600
Simple Spine Surgery USD 6,500 USD 2,300
Simple Brain Tumor
-Biopsy
-Surgery
USD 4,300
USD 10,000
USD1,200
USD 4,600
Parkinson’s
- Lesion
- DBS
USD 6,500
USD 26,000
USD 2,300
USD 17,800
Hip Replacement USD 13,000 USD 4,500
.derrucni eb ot tsoc lautca eht eb ton yam dna egareva na era stsoc esehT ‫٭‬
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Objectives
1. To study the factors which are attracting the International Patients to
Hyderabad.
2. To study the satisfaction level of International Patients
3. To compare the cost of the treatment in Hyderabad with foreign Countries.
Data Collection
This study was conducted in a corporate multi-super specialty hospital at
Hyderabad.
Primary Data – Primary Data is collected using methods such as interviews,
questionnaires and observations of the admit patients in the study hospital for the
year 2007 randomly.

14. 14
Secondary Data – All methods of data collection can supply quantitative data
(numbers, statistics or financial) or qualitative data (usually words or text).
Quantitative data may often be presented in tabular or graphical form. Secondary
data is data that has already been collected by someone else for a different purpose.
For example-Data supplied by a marketing organization, Annual hospital reports,
Government statistics.Sources of Data Collection – Paper-based sources,
Electronic sources, Official or government sources, Unofficial or general business
sources.
Findings and Interpretations – Specialty wise International Patients Received
Treatment in Study Hospital- (2007)
Sr.No. Specialty
No. of
Patients
1 Cardio-Thorasic Surgery 38
2 Plastic Surgery 49
3 Ophthalmology 58
4 Gynecology & Obstetrics 09
5 Orthopedics 68
6 Surgical Gastroenterology 38
7 Laparoscopic Surgery 49
8 Health check 60
9 Kidney Transplant Surgery 00
10 Oncology 62
11 Dental 32
TOTAL 463

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From the above data we can say that the international patients are coming to
Hyderabad to get the world class treatment at negligible cost without any waiting
time by the world class western qualified and trained Doctors for the major health
issues and tourism. There is more demand for Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Plastic
Surgery, Cardio-thoracic and Oncology Surgeries as these are the most expensive
surgeries in their countries with more waiting time.
Nationality wise International Patients Received Treatment in Study Hospital
(2007)
Nationality wise International Patients Received Treatment in Study Hospital
(2007)
Sr.No. Country Name Number Of Patients
1 NRI-USA 31
2 NRI-UK 32
3 KSA 78
4 UAE 82
5 Tanzania 63
6 Nigeria 38
7 Ethiopia 53
8 Kenya 32
9 Afghanistan 12
10 Uganda 36
11 China 06
TOTAL 463

16. 16
From the above data we can say that the Non-Residents-Indians from the
developed world and from the Arab Countries and African Countries Hyderabad is
getting good number of patients in all specialties. Patients are paying from their
own pockets to escape from the diseases and the huge waiting time in their
countries.
Satisfaction Level of International Patients Received Treatment in Study
Hospital:
Sr.No. Services
Very
Good%
Good% Average%
Below
Average%
1 Medical Treatment 85.52 13.82 0.64 00.00
2 Medical Services 88.12 11.44 0.43 00.00
3 Nursing Services 88.76 10.58 0.64 00.00
4 Patient Service 88.33 11.23 0.43 00.00
5 Administrative Staff 83.80 14.90 1.29 00.00
6 Food And Beverage 77.75 21.16 1.07 00.00
7 House Keeping 85.74 13.17 1.07 00.00
8 Over All Facilities 87.47 11.66 0.86 00.00
Total 85.68 13.49 0.80 00.00
Interviews were conducted in the study hospital of the international Patients, who
are treated and those under treatment, in the conscious state of mind. This reveals
that 85.68% patients rated the services provided by the study hospital are very
good, 13.49% patients rated the services provided by the study hospital are good,
0.80% patients rated the services provided by the study hospital are average, 0.00%
patients rated the services provided by the study hospital are below average.

17. 17
Conclusion
The following factors are attracting the international patients to Hyderabad-India
for treatment and tourism
1) Cost Benefit:
The prime advantage is the cost savings with respect to medical consultancy or
surgeries. Many of the Hyderabadi hospitals, serving international patients, have
state-of-the-art infrastructure, highly educated doctors and top-notch services but
the figure on that price tag is a fraction of what it would be in developed countries.
Even if the patient’s insurance does not cover the costs of treatment in India, the
final bill in an Indian hospital would most probably be lower than patient’s out-of-
pocket expenses.
2) Timeliness:
Another advantage is the possibility of getting immediate medical attention. There
are no waiting lists or delays to contend with, due to insurance issues or
unavailability of doctors etc.
3) Quality Health Care:
Hyderabadi doctors and paramedics are well trained and are one of the best in the
world.
4) Personalized Care:
Here patients are monitored closely with a personal care of all age group.
5) Technological Sophistication:
All the corporate Hospitals in Hyderabad are having State-of-the-art equipment
and infrastructure for the best treatment and diagnosis.
6) Facilitation by Government:
The Government of India has recognized the economic potential of medical
tourism. It has facilitated travel by introducing a special visa category known as
‘medical visa’ for patients as well as introduced tax incentives for hospitals.

18. 18
7) Ease Of Travel and Communication:
Travel to Hyderabad (India) has become easier and much faster due to introduction
of private airlines. Access to Internet in Hyderabad is considered to be one of the
cheapest in the world and communication facilities are well established. Travel
agencies have a great online presence and can offer you package deals that include
travel costs, boarding as well as treatment costs.
8) Easy Availability of Medicine and Drugs:
Certified drugs and medicines are easily available in Hyderabad, at comparatively
lesser prices.
9) Modern &and Traditional:
Modern medical aid as well as traditional therapy, such as Ayurveda, Yoga,
Naturopathy etc, is available at different locations in Hyderabad.
10) Tourism Potential:
People, who come for relatively simple, but important procedures, can consider
packing in some travel too, with their doctor’s permission! This is an added
advantage. Every part of the country is rich in history and diverse in geography.
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